Mental illnesses are always hard to bear, but one of the most debilitating is schizophrenia. It can provoke cardinal changes in the brain and affect a person's social functions. Even from birth, people can have genes that cause schizophrenia. A fascinating fact is that the first manifestations of this disorder can give signals in adolescence, during the pruning of cells by the brain.

What does pruning mean? This process is focused on the destruction of cortical synapses that make up the structure of the brain. They are responsible for the contact between neighboring cells. In general, circumcision occurs in adolescence, closer to age 20, and clears the brain for the formation of new synapses. The newly formed synapses serve as essential tools in adulthood.

After pruning the old synapses, the genes that cause schizophrenia get a new lease on life. It can be even worse – environmental triggers, such as stress or smoking, can activate them. Then, a person enters the prodromal phase of the disorder, although external changes may not be visible at first. The influence of this phase can cause a psychotic breakdown.

How does it manifest itself? There are several options, including delusions of grandeur and paranoid thoughts. Such symptoms do not go unnoticed by the people around them. Family or others are aware of the problem, which adds unnecessary difficulties for them and the patient. Therefore, external factors often initiate schizophrenia. And in such a situation, the main enemy is stress. Imagine that the brain encountered this trigger during school or the first relationship. The received stress can influence the formation of the prodromal phase of schizophrenia.

Stress is not the only trigger on the way to schizophrenia. Using cannabis can also put you closer to many disorders. If the right genes are present, schizophrenia can become a part of your life. *The Wall Street Journal* recently published an article citing research from some medical journals. For example, *The Lancet* has proved that cannabis can provoke psychosis.